Banding machine



Jan. 18, 1944. c. J. KELLER BANDING MACHINE Filed Agg. 1, 1940 Jan. 18, 1944. c. J. KELLER BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M N R m A Jam .18, 1944. c. J. KELLER 2,339,410

BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 l L i l 1 mvEN-roR 5 v l w .ATTORNEi- Jan. 18,1944.

c. J. KELLER 2,339,410

BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 'I sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEW Jan. 18, 1944. c. J. KELLER 2,339,410

BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 EEE MMM

Jan. 18, 1944. c. J. KELLER 2,339,410

BANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. l, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 6* INVENTOR YM, ATToRNl-:Y

Jan. 18, 1944. c. J. KELLER vBANDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 S www Y \w\ Fatemi-cd Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BANDING MACHINE Clarence J. Keller, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware 16 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of electrical wiring devices and more particularly to devices for wiring or electrically connecting the electrically operated accessories on an automobile. Such a wiring device for automobile use is generally known as a wiring harness; and it consists of a bundle of two or more wires provided at their ends with suitable terminals.

One method of bundling together a group of wires is to weave or braid a fabric sheath around the bundle of wire. I propose, however, to secure the wires together by means of metal bands which are bent around the wires, the insulation of the wires being protected by the inter-position of a non-metallic, insulating liner band between the insulation of the wires and the metal band. Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a machine into which strip liner material and metal are fed and cut orf to provide insulating and metal band of the required length and by which the insulating band is placed upon the metal band and both together are folded into U-shaped formation within a workholder preparatory to receiving a bundle of electrical wires. The work holder containing portions of the wires received within the U-shaped liner and metal bands is transferred by a conveyor to a station where the 11p-standing flanges of the liner and metal bands are folded down against lthe insulated wires to secure them together.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention as herein disclosed, will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a bundle of two electrical wires secured together by a metal band or strip overlying an insulating band.

Figs. 2 and 3 taken together constitute a fragmentary side elevation of a machine for forming insulating and metal band from strip material and for holding them around a bundle of wiresuas shown in Fig. l. The sectional part of Fig. 3 is on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 4 and 5 taken together constitute a fragmentary front view of the machine, the sectional part being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. via on the same sheet with Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a fragment of the upper lefthand part of Fig. 4 and shows certain moving elements in their respective positions after the crank shaft of the machine is rotated 180.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 and shows the top view of the upper die block as if it were detached from the press head.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrow 'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a view on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8, omitting the punches shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line IO-ill of Figs. 6 and 8 showing the punches down as in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a. sectional View on the line of Fig. 6 and shows the punches up.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line |2-|2 of Figs. 6 and 8, with the punches up.

Fig. 13 shows diagrammatically in perspective the shearing and forming punches of the machine in relation to the insulating and metal bands and to the work holder.

In building the wiring harness banding machine in accordance with the present invention, I start with a suitable punch press of standard make comprising the usual bed 2U (Fig. 5) mounted on legs 2| and supporting frames 22 providing guides 23 for a press head or ram 24 (Fig. 4). Ram 24 is vertically movable and is connected by a ball and socket connection indicated at 25 with a connecting rod 2B connected with crank pin 2l integral with crank arms 28 provided by a crank shaft 25 journalled in bearings provided by brackets 30 which are attached to the frame 22. Shaft 29 drives a barrel cam 3| having a groove 32 receiving a roller 33 attached to a lever 34 pivoted at 35 on a bracket 36 attached to the frame 22. The lower end of lever 34 (Fig. 5) is pinned at 3l to an adjustable link 38. Through the left end of link 38 there passes a bolt 39 also passing through a slot 40 in a lever 4|. The angular movement of lever 4I relative to the angular movement of lever 34 can be adjusted by varying the position of the bolt 39 relative to the slot 4D. When the bolt 39 is in the proper position it is fixed in that position by tightening a nurJ 42.

Lever 4| is pivoted at 43 upon a pair of brackets 44 fixed to a plate 45 attached to a table 46 mounted on the bed 20 of the punch press. The plate 45 supports a bracket 4l which supports rods 48 along which slide a device 50 connected by a link 49 with the roll end of lever 4|. The device 50 is what is known as a sliding leed and may be of any well-known make such as the U. S. slide feed. As this device is not per se a part of the invention its detail construction is not shown. For present purposes it is sufllcient to state that the slide feed 50 reciprocates left and right upon the rods 48 (Fig. 5). When it moves toward the right it moves with a liner strip P (preferably insulating paper) from the rear of the machine to the center or toward the observer as viewed in Fig. 5, or from right toward left as viewed in Fig. 8. `v'I'he steel strip, like the paper strip, is unwound from a supply roll and is fed intermittently by another slide feed (Fig. 3), similar in construction and modeof operation to the slide feed 50. The ldevice 60 slides on rods 6| mounted on the bed 20 of the punch press. As the slide feed 60 moves toward the right (Fig. 3) it causes the movement of the metal strip S which is guided horizontally by grooved plate 64 secured by bracket 65 to the bracket 62. The slide feed 60 is reciprocated byv a mechanism comprising a link 10 connecting it with a bell crank lever 1I pivoted at 12 on bracket 13 attached to bracket 62. Lever 1| is connected by pin 14 with adjustable link 15 connected by pin 16 (Fig. 2) with an arm 11 adjustable radially with respect to an arm 18 pinned to shaft 19. Shaft 19 is connected with a lever arm 80 pinned at 8| to an adjustable link 82 connected with a, strap 83 which is apertured at 84 to clear the hub 85 of a double cam having a cam plate 86 for engaging a roller 81 pivoted bya, screw 88 on the strap 83. The other plate 90 of this cam engages roller 9|l pivotally mounted on the strap 83. Rotation of the crank shaft will effect reciprocation of the strap 83 and rod 82 and the oscillation of levers 80, 18 and 1| to effect reciprocatlon of the slide feed 60.

Referring to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the metal strip S is fed in the direction of the arrow |00 toward a central part of the machine and vertically above a workholder comprising a grooved block |0| located between two vertical pins |02. A punch |03 shears the strip S at the line |04. After the shearing operation the strip S continues to be fed and pushes the severed strips S' also in the direction of the arrow |00. The distance through which the strip S is fed each time is such that there will be one strip S located between the shearing line |04 and that strip S' located vertically above the work holder block IOI. The length of each strip S' is less than the width of the paper strip P so that the ends of paper strip P' will extend beyond the ends of the strip S'. strip P' is greater than the width of the metal strip S'. When the strips S' and P' are formed around the wires 224 and 225 (Fig. 1), no part of the strip S/ is in contact with the insulation of `thesewires. Fig. 13 shows that the paper strip P is fed in which, in a plan view would be at right angles to the arrow. |00. Between the operations of intermittently feeding the strip P, it is sheared almost across by a punch |06 which cuts the paper at the lines |06a, thus leaving a small neck at I06b which is not severed. The lshearing punch |06 therefore shears the paper into band liner portions P'. The extent of feed of the paper P is such that there will be two sections P' between 'I'he width of the paper the direction of the arrow |05 the shearing lines |06a and that portion P' which is vertically above the work holder block IOI. The mechanisms which feed the strips S and P are so timed that the metal strip S' arrives over the work holder block I 0I (Fig. 13) ahead of the strip P. This is desirable since it is necessary that the strip P' rest upon the strip S. This might not happen if the strip "P' were to arrive over the block 0| ahead of the strip S.' The function of the punch |01 (Fig. 13) is to force the superposed strips S and P into U-shaped formation upon the block IUI and between the pins |02 as shown in Fig. 8. The punches |03,

' |06 and |01 are fastened to a plate I`I0 secured to the press ram 24 (Fig. 8).

The punch |03 is vertically above an opening in a plate ||2 which provides a cover for a plate I|3 having groove |I4 therein for receiving the strip S. Plates II2 and |I3 are mounted upon the block |43 which is supported by table 46. A portion of the groove II4 is blocked by a stop strip I5 (Fig. 8) which limits the movement of the strip S in the direction of the arrow |00 (Fig. 13) or-toward the right in Fig. 8. Initially, the mechanism for operating the slide feed 60 will be adjusted so that the strip S will just engage the stop II5. After that the feed 60 will feed the strip S' into the correct position under punch |01. The punch |03 is provided with a cutting edge I I6 which cooperates with a shearing surface I|1 provided in plate |I3 in order to cut the strip S along the line |04 (Fig. 13). The punch |03 is provided with tangs I| 8 received by grooves II9 in a block |20 which is vertically slidable in a recess |2| provided by block-|43. A spring/|22 urges the block |20 upwardly so that its flanges at |20a may strike against the lower surface of the plate 3. The punch |03 carries with it a rod |25, the lower end of which is adapted to engage the strip S `and clamp it to block |20 while the cutting edge of the punch |03 shears the strip as shown in Fig. 8. When the press head 24 moves upwardly to carry the punch |03 and the rod |25 away from the plate I I2, then the strip S will be forced upwardly against the upper side of the plate ||2 by the spring pressed block |20 which thereby aligns the left edge of the uncut strip S with the cut portion S' further to the left in the channel The punch |06 is vertical above an aperture |30 in the plate I I2. Punch |06 is provided with oblique cutting edges |06 which cooperate with left hand surfaces |3| defining a recess |32 in block |I3 (Fig. 10) to shear the paper strip P along the lines |06a. The recess |32 receives a block |33 which is cut away to provide inclined surfaces |34 and thus provide clearancefor the cutting edges |0611: of the punch |06. These oblique surfaces |34 guide the strip section P to a horizontal groove |35 provided between the plates ||2 and I|3 for the purpose of guiding the liner strip P' into location above the metal band .S after it arrives above the Workholder block IOI. That portion of the channel |35 which lies to the right of the punch I 01 (Fig. 10) is blocked by a stop-plate I 36 which limits travel of the strip P' to the right of the lower end of the punch |01. Initially, the mechanism for operating the slide feed will be adjusted so that the strip P' will just engage the stop |36.

After thatthe feed 50 will feed strips P' into cross each other below an aperture |40 in plate ||2. Plate ||3 is provided with an aperture |4| which cuts across the channel H4 and which is located midway between the edges of channel |35.

Aperture |4| is in vertical alignment with aperture |40 and with punch |01 and also in vertical alignment with aperture |42 in block |43. The aperture |42 is in alignment with aperture |44 in a hard metal insert |45 secured to block I 43 by screws |46. The aligned apertures |4|, |42 and |45 are of such width as to receive the strips S' and P' when they are forced downwardly by the punch |01 and are caused thereby to take a U- shaped formation as shown in Fig. 8v and finally to be located upon that workholder block which is then vertically below the punch |01. When the punch |01 is pulled upwardly by the press ram 24, and strips S and P are retained by frictional engagement with the pins |02 associated with the block |0|. If they tend to pull out with the punch |02 they will also tend to spread out and their upper edges will be caught against the insert plate |45 which therefore serves as means for stripping the strips from the lower end of the punch |01.

During the downward movement of the punc to carry the strips from the flat condition shown in Fig. 13 into the U-shaped formation shown in Fig. 8, that paper strip P' then under the punch is severed from the adjacent strip P' due to the cooperation of the punch |01 with the edge |4| defining the aperture |4|.

After the ram 24 moves upwardly to withdraw all of the punches from the channels which guide the paper and metal strips and before the punch returns downwardly to cross these channels, -the slide feeds 50 and B0 are operated in order to move other paper strips P and other steel strips S into position between the punch |01 and a vertically aligned workholder block |0|.

There are a plurality of workholder blocks |0| each mounted vtogether with pins |02 on a plate |50. The plates |50 are all connected by chain links |5|, thus providing an endless chain conveyor. There are two chains of links |5| which pass around a pair of idle sprocket Wheels |52 near the front of the machine and a pair of driving sprocket wheels |53 located toward the rear of the machine. The sprocket wheels |52 are mounted on a shaft |54 journalled in bearings |55 provided by brackets |56 fastened by screws |51 to the table 46. Table 46 supports guide bars |60 and |6| for guiding the chains |5| and the blocks |50. The block |43 is provided with a channel |43a to provide clearance for the blocks |0| and pins |02. The guide plate |60 which is set into a 'recess |60a in the table 46 provides a rest or Support for the blocks |0| as they pass through the channel |43a of block |43.

As viewed in Fig. 8, these blocks |0| move toward the left and are propelled in this direction by an intermittent motion which comprises a bar |10 guided for vertical sliding movement by brackets |1| fixed in bed 20 (Fig. 3) and carrying a pawl |12 urged by spring |13 into engagement with a ratchet |14 which is drivingly connected with one of the pair of sprockets 53 which, together with the other sprocket |53 -is mounted on a shaft |15 journalled in bearings |16 provided by side frames 22 (Fig. 6). Rod |10 is connected by pin |80 with a bar |8| fixed to a rod |82 extending through a plain hole.- |83 in a bar |84 fastened by screws |85 to ram 24. During upward movement of ram 24 from the bottom shown in Fig. 8, lost motion is taken up between the bar |84 and nuts |88 adjustably secured to the rod |82. When this motion is taken up, further upward movement of the ram 24 causes the rod |82 and hence the bar |10 (Fig. 3) to be lifted, thereby causing the pawl |12 to rotate the ratchet |14 through a. predetermined angular distance for the purpose of causing the chains |5| to move clockwise around the axis of shaft |15 and thus move the upper workholder blocks toward the right (Fig. 3) and toward the left (Fig. 8). By adjusting the position of the nuts |86 on the rod |82 (Fig. 8) to adjust the amount of lost motion between the ram 24 and lthe ratchet mechanism which drives the chain |5I, the travel of the chain conveyor can be adjusted so that it will move each time a distance equal to the spacing of the blocks |0|. During downward movement of the ram 24, the bar |84 will engage spring |81 to move the bar |10 downwardly with yielding pressure to force the lower end of the bar |10 against a stop screw |90 located in adjusted position with respect to a bracket |9| by a lock nut |92. During downward movement of the bar |10 the pawl |12 drags along the ratchet |14 which is prevented from rotation by virtue of a brake associated with the shaft |15. This brake comprises adrum 200 (Fig. 7) engaged by brake band segments 20| carried by clamping members 202 which are fulcrumed about a stud 203 secured to frame 22 and retained by nut 204. The friction segments 20| are clamped against the brake drum 200 with pressure effected by the tightening of a nut 205 of a screw 206 which passes through the clamping members 202.

The transmission of motion from a rotary driving wheel to the punch crank shaft 29 is effected through a one-revolution clutch (not shown) controlled in the usual manner by pressing a pedal or other suitable operating member. When the clutch closes, the press ram moves from top-most to lower-most position and then returns to the top-most position and then the rotation of the shaft 29 stops. As the conveyor chain |2| moves the workholders filled with U-shaped paper and steel strips toward the left (Fig. 8), a workholder thus filled will arrive under a forming punch 2|0 slidably supported by a block 2|| and the plate I0. The upper end of punch 2|0 is welded to a plate 2| 2, the position of which is controlled by a cam 2I3 fastened to a shaft 2|4 by a key 2|5 and a set screw 2|6. Shaft 2|4 is journalled in bearings provided by plates 2|1 fastened by screws 2|1a (Fig. 6) to plate ||0. Plate ||0 is reinforced by block 2|8 fastened by screws 2|9 to the ram 24 and by screws 2|9a to plate ||0. Plungers 220 urged upwardly by springs 22| urged the plate 2|2 against various surfaces of the cam 2|3. These surfaces are of different distances from the center vof shaft 2| 4. Therefore, by turning l the shaft 2|4, the relation between the upper ends of the liner strip and banding strip and to cause them to be folded around the wires 224 and 225 as shown in Fig. 8, in order to band the wires together as shown in Fig. 1.

The lower end of During downward movement of the punch 2|0 it straddles the block and pushes the adjacent pins |02 downwardly thus forcing them against a plunger 230 supported byl compression spring 23| housed within a tubular bracket 232 closed at its lower end by plate 233 and fastened at its upper end to the underside of table 46. When the punch 2|0 moves upwardly the pins |02 are returned to normal position by the spring 23| acting upwardly on the plunger 230 which returns its upper surface into the plane of the upper surface of the plate |60, the flange 230a of the plunger 230 then striking against' the shoulder 232a of the bracket 232.

To operate the machine, the operator sits in front of the machine as viewed in Fig. 8. He places a bunch of wires in the recess or notch provided by the U-shaped banding strips P and S then located by workholder lunder the punch 2|0. Then he presses a pedal to cause the punch ram to descend, thereby causing the punch 2|0 to form the strips S and P' around the bundle of wires and thus banding them together. During this operation the Workholder under the punch |01 is being lled with U-formed strips of paper and steel. The Workholder between the punches 2|0 and |01 has already been lled with U-shaped banding strips. During the upward movement of the press ram 24 to carry the punch 2|0 out of engagement with the strips which have just been operated upon to band a bundle of Wires together, the conveyor chain ISI moves counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 to bring the next succeeding workholder lled with U-formed strips under the punch 2 I0. Then the press stops with the punch 2|0 in uppermost position and a lled workholder vertically below it. The operator may then place the same or a diierent bundle of wires Within the groove proI vided by the U-formed strips then vertically below the punch 2|0 and trip the press again to repeat'the banding operation upon the same or a different b-unch of wir s.

It is apparent from t e foregoing description of the construction and mode of operation of the machine that the machine provides for cutting off the banding strips of paper and steel from strip stock, for placing these strips in superposed relation, for forming the strips into U-form with the paper strip inside the steel strip, for transferring these U-strips from the first forming station to a second forming or banding station Where the operator places within the groove provided by them a group of wires to be banded together. At this second forming station a. punch descends to deform the banding strips around the group of Wires so as to secure them as a bundle for convenient handling.

If insulation coated banding metal strip stock is used, the machine can be operated without the strip paper feeding means. Obviously the present machine will operate upon a non-insulated metal banding strip, Without a liner strip, if such metal strip could be used in direct contact with the insulation of the Wires, the kind or amount of insulationl of the wires being such that there would-be no likelihood of short circuit.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be-understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A machine for banding a group of insulated wires comprising means for supporting a metal 'banding strip and a banding strip liner of nonconductingmaterial in juxtaposed relation, means for forming the strips into U-formation with the liner strip inside the metal strip, a work-holder for receiving the U-strips as formed by the forming means, means for moving the work-holder relative to the supporting means, and a second forming means cooperating with the work-holder in another position thereof for bending the branches of the U-strips toward a group of insulated Wires placed within the confines of the U-s'trips. l

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the rst forming means comprises a punch cooperating With a die opening in the strip supporting means.

3. A machine according to claim 1 having means for moving the work holder from 'the lrst forming means to the second -fo/rming means.

4. A machine according to claim 1 having an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of the workholders and moved intermittently to carry the work holders containing U-strips from the rst forming means to the second forming means.

5. A machine according to claim 1 having means for feeding lengths of strip metal and* strip liner material and means for cutting the p lengths of strip material to provide the banding strip and liner, the uncut material, when being fed, moving the cut material to the banding strip supporting means.

6. A machine according to claim 1 havirm means for feeding a length of strip metal in one direction toward the banding strip supporting means, means for feeding a length of strip liner material toward the banding strip supporting means in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the rst mentioned feeding means, and means for cutting thev lengths of strip material to provide the banding strip and liner strip, the uncut material, when being fed, moving the cut materia1 to the banding strip supporting means.

7. A machine for banding a group of Wires comprising, means for feeding a length of strip metal and a length of band liner material into juxtaposed relation, means for cutting said lengths of strip material to provide the banding strip and liner strip, means supporting the banding strip and liner strip when in juxtaposed relation, means for forming the strips into U-formation with the liner strip inside the metal strip,

a Work holder for receiving the U-strips as formed by the forming means, a second forming means for bending the branches of the U-strips toward a group of Wires placed within the connes of the U-strips, and means for moving the work holder from the* first to the second forming means.

8. A machine for banding a group of insulated wires comprising, means for supporting a banding at strip in straight condition, means for forming the strip into U-formation 'through an opening in the supporting means; a movable Workholder for receiving the U-strap as formed by the forming means; means for moving the Workholder in strips from the first position to other positions; a second forming means cooperating With workholder in one of said other positions for bending the branches of the U-strip to embrace the insulation of a group of Wires placed within the confines of the U-strip.

9. A machine for banding a group of wires comprising, stationary means for supporting a. banding strip in straight condition, means for forcing the strips through an opening in the supporting means into U-formation, a workholder for receiving the U-strap as they pass through the opening; means for moving the workholder relative to the stationary supporting means and conveying theU-strap to another station remote from the receiving station; and a second forming means cooperating with the workholder in said other station for bending the branches of the U-strip toward a group of wires placed within the confines of the U-strip.

10. A machine according to claim 8 having means actuated in steps for moving the work holder step-by-step from the first forming means to thesecond forming means.

1l. A machine according to claim 8 having an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of the work holders and moved intermittently to carry the work holders containing U-strips from the first forming means to the second forming means.

12. A machine for banding a group of insulated wire comprising means for feeding a metal banding strap in one direction and a non-conducting strap in another direction so that the straps will be in superposed and overlapped relation over a support having an opening; means for forcing the straps through the opening and forming the straps into U-shape with the non-conductingstrap inside the metal strap, a workholder movable relative to the support and having a plurality of positions, said Workliolder receiving the U-straps as formed by the forming means in one position; means for moving the workholder to another position, and a second forming means for bending the branches of the U-straps around a group of insulated wires placed within the confines of the U-straps when said workholder is moved to one of its other positions.

13. A machine for banding a group of insulated wires together comprising, means for feeding a metal strap; means for severing a, length from the strap, the uncut metal, when being fed, moving the severed length to a predetermined position; means for feeding a strap of insulating material over the severed length of metal; means for partially cutting the insulated strap into a liner for covering the severed length of metal; a punch for severing the liner over the length of metal from the strap of insulating material and for bending the severed length of metal and the severed liner in U-formation with the liner inside the metal length; a workholder for receiving the U-straps as formed by the punch; means for bending the branches of the U-straps around the insulation of a group of the wires placed within the confines of the U-straps; and means for moving the workholder from the first mentioned bending position to the second mentioned bending position.

14. A machine for banding a group of wires comprising, a die having an opening; means for feeding a metal banding strip and banding strip liner in different directions in juxtaposed relation and over the opening of the die; means for cutting the strips in lengths to provide the banding strip and liner; forming means comprising a punch cooperating with the die opening for forming the lengths into U-forination; workholders movable beyond the die for receiving the U formations; a second forming means comprising a punch cooperating with the workholders. for bending the branches of the U formations toward a group of Wires placed within the confines of-the U-formations; and means for intermittently shifting the workholder from the first forming means to the second forming means.

15. A machine for banding a group of insulated wires together comprising, a supply of flat metal strips; a supply of non-conducting strips; means for feeding the metal strip in one direction; means for severing a length from the metal strip, the uncut metal, when being fed, moving the severed length to a predetermined position; means for feeding the non-conducting strip in another direction and over the severed length of metal; means for severing a length from the l non-conducting strip over the length of metal and for forming the severed lengths of metal and non-conducting material into U-formation; a workholder for receiving the U-strips as formed by the forming means in one position; means for intermittently shifting the workholder to other positions; and a. punch cooperating with the workholder in one of its other positions for bending the branches of the U-strips around the wires placed within the confines of the U-strips.

16. A machine for banding a group of wires comprising, a stationary die having an opening; means for feeding a strip of metal in one direction relative to the die so that the end of the strip covers the opening; means for feeding a strip of non-conducting material relative to the die and in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the first mentioned feeding means so that the end thereof covers the end of the metal strip; means for severing the ends of the strips to provide the banding and liner strips; a punch cooperating with the opening of the die for forming the severed strips into U-formation with the liner strip inside the metal strip; an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of workholders and moved intermittently to align the workholders with the die opening to receive the U-strip formation and also to move the workholders containing the U-strips past the die;

and a second punch cooperating with the workholders for bending the vbranches of the U-strips around the group of wires placed within the confines of the U-strip.

CE J. KELLER. 

